Sunday, October 28, 2007

Boneless Wonder


I remember when I was a child, being taken to the celebrated Barnum's Circus, which contained an exhibition of freaks and monstrosities, but the exhibit on the program which I most desired to see was the one described as "The Boneless Wonder". My parents judged that the spectacle would be too demoralizing and revolting for my youthful eye and I have waited fifty years, to see The Boneless Wonder sitting on the Treasury Bench.

- Winston S. Churchill, describing Ramsay MacDonald


As he fails to stand up for his principles, Andrew Sullivan morphs into a Boneless Wonder, effectively whitewashing Barack Obama's use of "alleged 'ex-gay' Rev. Donnie McClurkin, notorious gay-basher Rev. Hezekiah Walker, and, popular gospel duo Mary Mary, who have compared gays to prostitutes and murderers," as headline acts during his South Carolina tour. Some are already referring to it as the "gay bash" tour. Were it any other candidate (save possibly Ron Paul), Sullivan would have penned a devastating denunciation without delay.

[10/30 UPDATE:]
It took a while, but Sullivan discovered he has a spine after all. Good for him.


11 comments:

Trooper York said...

Hey do you know Richard Chamberlin? Or did you know him?
Enquiring minds want to know. I read Shogun about 4 times.

Peter Hoh said...

Yep, this was a blunder on Obama's part. Meanwhile, Hillary keeps appearing with that guy who signed DOMA and gave us Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Randy said...

I didn't know him, but one of my high school math teachers used to play tennis with him. I read Shogun as well. Saw part of the mini-series but not all of it.

Randy said...

Let's be fair here - DADT was the best they could do at the time. DOMA was CYA at the time but as late as 2004 Kerry wasn't publicly appreciably different. All of them could use a little less spinal anesthetic as far as I am concerned.

Trooper York said...

On and on and on and on and on and on
Like you even know what's going on
Into this world that I'm drawn
They'll kill you before you're born
They'll pawn your soul to be number one

You say it's old fashioned same old song
That's how your mother likes it all night long

And if she says how to feel
Don't even talk about it

We could stay at home man
Call the skag and bone man
Dig our grave out with a spoon
Then in the morning picking flowers
Spirit up for hours
Til the sun becomes the moon

You say it's old fashioned, well one thing I know
That's how your mother likes it, now watch my boy go

Yes it's real, it's like your next meal
Don't even talk about it

"Shit!, we've f**ked it all up man
we've f**ked it all up
we've missed half the song out (very nice)"

It's real like your next meal
Don't even talk about it
(The Libertines, Skag & Boneman)

Randy said...

Trooper: As a couple of my younger relatives visit here, thanks for keeping it relatively clean. And I really do appreciate you visiting!

Trooper York said...

No problemo, we can deal. I enjoy your insights. They are uniformly apt and to the point. So things will not be what they seem, Innuendo-R-US.

Trooper York said...

This week I decided to follow a few of my favorite commentors to their lairs. When I went to Maxine's place, I felt like Beowulf.

Randy said...

LOL! Really? I remember looking in on her site once, probably almost 2 years ago, and thinking it passing strange. (But then what did I expect?) Maybe I'll drop in over there to see what's up.

Finn Alexander Kristiansen said...

One of the things I think people miss is that many black churches are not at all in favor of homosexuality and are quite conservative.

These singers mentioned are well known names in any black Christian bookstore, or any of the large conservative bookstore chains that appeal to both white and black born again Christian/evangelical types.

So it makes Obama's task difficult as he will never really be able to find many black gospel singers that are also enthusiastically pro-homosexuality.

And that is part of the Democrat's dilemma. Wanting to connect with potential constituents (whether black or religious or both), while having to stay on good terms with the wider voting block (the gay community, more progressive types).

It's probably wiser for him to stick to pure policy.

Randy said...

Thanks for your thoughts, Finn. Do you really think most of the politically active are not aware of black churches relative conservatism and dislike of homosexuality? It seems to me that has been pretty well covered in the mainstream media in recent years.

While I understand your point about gospel singers, McClurken's performances in South Carolina were not confined to singing only. I didn't get the feeling that anyone was suggesting that one had to be enthusiastically pro-homosexuality just accepting or tolerating might have been nice. Maybe I misunderstood the drift of the criticism.

It's probably wiser for him to stick to pure policy.

I think so. I'm not a big fan of those who publicly use their personal religious beliefs to promote their political agenda, whether it is a George W. Bush, a Jimmy Carter or a Barack Obama. Not to say that I object to them stating that it is a part of who they are, just tired of seeing it paraded around in order to attract votes.